Sutton Trust – expanding higher education access hasn’t improved social mobility

CDI News Desk

12 November 2025

Sutton Trust – expanding higher education access hasn’t improved social mobility

The Sutton Trust has published its ‘Degrees of Difference’ report examining the rates of social mobility across 20 OECD countries. It found that, while higher education is still a significant social mobility driver for individuals – with UK graduates having a 32% chance of becoming top earners, compared to just 12% of those without degrees – and more people are gaining graduate degrees, overall social mobility is flat or declining across OECD countries.

This is down to a drop in the earning uplift from graduate income for those from non-graduate families. Individuals from these families remain 45% less likely to become top earners.

The report also found that the UK and US are over-reliant on higher education as a social mobility driver, whereas Canada and some other European countries have stronger alternatives to university.

Read the Degrees of Difference report.

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